Leadership Matters March 2014

If we have to increase class sizes to generate the amount of savings districts will need to generate in these times of decreasing resources, then we must find a different way of teaching students. Technology and “flipped classrooms” are not the only solutions, but I have personally visited classrooms like these and I have been amazed at the work of both the students and the teachers. In no way am I advocating that class sizes be increased. However, during these economic times when increased class sizes will occur because this is the only solution that can cut large amounts of expenditures then we need to figure out how to educate students better with fewer resources. Now is the time to start this conversation in your school district. I do not see a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

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schools.” If you visit Mooresville you will find that they do not buy textbooks anymore, and they do not have copy machines or paper. They have digital learning. This district really has changed “teaching” to “mentoring.” I remember doing a Podcast interview with a Eureka Middle School math teacher, Mrs. Tignor, who had changed her math classes to a “flipped classroom” approach. What Mrs. Tignor told me during this interview had a major impact on how I view the use of technology in the classroom. She said, “In the past I might personally talk to four or five students during a class period. With this approach I talk to every student every day. I have never had so many students doing this well in my classes.” How powerful is that statement?

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